The death of Pikeville Police Officer Scotty Hamilton has shocked the community, with many folks in Pikeville in disbelief that such a tragedy could touch their community.

And it’s fitting they feel that way, because for most people in Pikeville, this is the only time in their lifetime a city officer lost his or her life in the line of duty.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page website, Officer Hamilton’s line-of-duty death is only the second in the history of the Pikeville Police Department. The last Pikeville officer to die in the line of duty was Policeman Alonzo “Lon” Robinson.

According to the website, Robinson and a U.S. deputy marshal were serving a search warrant at Happy Hollow in Pikeville. The officers seized a handgun and a bottle of whiskey from a suspect, and while leading the man away from a residence, the suspect produced a second firearm and shot Robinson in the chest, killing him. The deputy marshal was also shot, but returned fire, injuring the shooter.

Robinson was 39 years old when he was killed. That shooting happened May 16, 1929.

Additionally, the last law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty in Pike County was Pike County Sheriff’s Deputy James Thacker, who died in a car accident while traveling to serve civil papers in January 2012. Thacker was 53.

Pikeville Police Officer Scotty Hamilton leaves behind a wife and an infant daughter.

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